Jet type bailer with gas generating mechanism



Oct. 20, 1959 v. D. HANES ET AL 2,909,225

JET TYPE BAILER WITH GASYGENERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 1, 1956 gif-32 INVENToRL VAUGHN D. HNES JOHN D, CHESNUT vBY eAfro/Sgr v. D. HANEs ETAL JET TYPE BATLER WITH GAS GENERATING MEcHANTsMFiled June l, 195e Oct. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO/WYE).l

JET TYPE BAILER WITH GAS GENERATING MECHANISM Vaughn D. Hanes, Covina,and John D. Chesnut, Newport Beach, Calif., assignors to Aerojet-GeneralCorl poration, Azusa, Calif., a corporation of Ohio Application June 1,1956, Serial No. '588,826

6 Claims. (Cl. 166-63) This invention relates to oil well tools.Y Moreparticularly, the invention relates to well bailers of the type whereina uid jet is directed against debris in the well to cause the debris tomove upwardly in the well to a point above the open top of the bailersothat subsequent upward movement of the bailer in the well will causethe debris to be collected within the bailer body. Bailers of thisgeneral type are disclosed in the following copending patentapplications: Serial No. 588,770, filed lune 1, 1956, by .lohn D.Chesnut; and Serial No. 588,827, led June 1, 1956, by Vaughn D. Hanes.

, J et bailers of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patentapplications depend upon the kinetic energy in the jet for theiroperation. Kinetic energy may be delined by the equation where M is themass and V2 is the square of the velocity of the jet. Inasmuch as thejets employed in the bailers above referred to are composed entirely ofgaseous fluids (generated by the combustion of suitable propellants)such jets have a relatively low kinetic energy although their velocitiesmay be high.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a jet for a jetbailer, which has greater kinetic energy, obtained by increasing themass of the jet while maintaining approximately the same velocity of thejet. This object is achieved by providing a jet which consists of acombination of liquid and gaseous particles, the liquid particle havinga much greater density than the gaseous particles. y

It' is a further object of the invention to provide an all-liquid jetfor a jet bailer of the type wherein the propulsive force is generatedby gaseous means.`

Other objects and advantages will be evident from the followingdescription and drawings illustratingseveral embodiments of theinvention.

Fig. l isa schematic 'view showing a bailer `embodying the presentinvention positioned within a Well.

Fig.'2 is an elevation, in cross section, showing the upper portion ofthe bailer shown in Fig. 1.

Y Fig.V 3 is an elevation, in vcross section, of the lower portion ofthe bailer shown in Fig. 2.

Fig; 4- is an elevation, in cross embodiment of the bailer.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, in cross section, of still another embodimentof-the invention'. fv f Fig. V6'is an elevation,in cross section,ofsltill another embodiment of the invention. v y j w Referring to Fig.1, the numeral 1 indicatesa well bore which .may be lined with a wellcasing 2. Within thecasing 2 (orfwithin the well bore 1, if the borehole `is not cased)l is a bridge orobstruct-ion 3 formed of sandPatented oct. zo, 1959 2 pended Within the well, slightly above thebridge 3, by means of a hoisting line 6 extending to the top of thewell. The principal parts of the bailer 5 are a body having: one or moreupwardly facing buckets 7; a pro- 5 pellant combustion chamber 8; adownwardly directed nozzle 9 and ignition means (not shown) for thepropellant. Debris 3, dislodged by the iluid jet issuing from the nozzle9 moves upwardly as indicated by the arrows 10 to some point above thebuckets 7. Upward movement of the bailer 5 causes the dislodged debristo enter the upper ends of the buckets 7 as indicated by the arrows 11,where the debris is trapped for removal from the well. Y

Fig. 2 illustrates in more detail a bailer of the type indicated inFig. 1. The bailer 5 is provided with some suitable means for attachmentto the hoisting line 6, such as the eye bolt 12 and nipple 13 which issecured to theupper end of a drainage tube 14. Mounted on the drainagetube 14, which will be shown to provide a fluid inlet to the bailerbody, are one or more buckets or cups 7 which are secured by anysuitable means such as the welding indicated at 15. Preferably there areseveral such buckets 7, spaced apart, with their upper ends 16 open, toreceive debris. Each bucket may be several feet in length. The drainagetube 14 is provided with a series of small drainage holes 17 which leadfrom the interior of each bucket 7 into the interior ofthe drainage tube14. The purpose of these drainage holes 17 is to permit liquid to passfrom the buckets 7 into the tube 14 while filtering out the soliddebris.

The lower end of the drainage tube 14 communicates with the interior ofa tubular housing 18 which may be an extension of the lowermost bucket7, as shown, or may be a separate member. The lower end of the housing18 (Fig. 3) contains a perforated closureplug 19 which is attached tothe lower end of the housing 18 by any suitable means, such as Vthethreads 20. The lower end of the plug 19 is threadedly connected to. theupper end of a tubular shell 21 as indicated at 22. A wrench space 23may be provided between the threads 20 and 22. A series of axiallydirected drain holes 24 extend through the plug 19 near the outerperiphery thereof.`

The upper end of the plug 19 is provided with suitable means such as thethreaded, stepped bosses 25 and 26 for attaching thereto a pair oftubular housings 27 and 28. The plug 19 is provided with a central bore29 which receives a slidable tube 38 therein. The tubular housing 27 isspaced inwardly of the housing 18,to provide an annular fluid channel 31therebetween. The

, upperVA end of tubular housing 27 (Fig. 2) is adjacent section, ofanother i.

the lower end of the drainage tube 14 and is preferably braced by tackwelding to the bottom of the lowermost bucket 7 as indicated at 32.Ports 33 in the walls of the housing 27 permit the interior of thedrainage tube 14 tobe in open communication with the annular fluid theplug 19 ('Fig. 3).

The lower end of the tubular housing 28 (Fig. 3)` is spaced inwardlyfrom the Ahousing 27 to form an' annular gas passage 34 between thehousings 27Iand .28.' The upperportion of the housing 28 is providedwith aseries of gas inlet ports^35 in the walls thereof. The upper endofthe housing 28 is threaded as indicated at 36 to receive an extensionvcap 371which houses `aj cup-shaped firing :pin38 and supports apercussioncap cartridge 39. vFor this latter purpose the extension capor otherdebris. The wellwill normally ,lcontainuid t'o `some level 4above the bridge 3. A bailer`5 is susport's'43' for vthe passage of gastherethrough.

i 2,909,225 e e j The upper end of the housing 28 (Fig. 3) is providedwith an upwardly extending tubular support 44 on which the cup-shapedfiring pin 38 is slidably mounted. Ports 45 formed in the base ofthegtubular support 44 permit the passage of gas therethrough. The wallof the firing pin 38 is provided with an outwardly extending iange 46which rests upon the top of a helical spring 47 which is normally heldin a compressed condition. The lower end of the spring 47 rests upon theupper surface of the base of the tubular support 44. The inner surfaceof the cup-,shaped firing pin 38 is counterbored intermediate its endsas indicated at 48 to receive a portion of ball detent 49 which ishoused with an opening 50 in the side wall of the support 44. The lowerend of the counterbore 48 terminates in an upwardly facing shoulder 51which supports the ball detent 49 in its normal, latched position, asshown Fig. 3. An opening 52 may be' provided in the top of the cupshapedfiring pin 38.

Housed slidably within the tubular extension 44 is a plunger 53 whichnormally prevents the ball detent 49 from moving out of the counterbore48. The plunger 53 is supported by a neck 54 of sufficiently smallerdiameter than the plunger 53 so that when the plunger 53 moves upwardlyfar enough to bring the neck portion opposite the ball detent 49, theball is permitted to move inwardly a distance suflicient to permit theshoulder 50 on the firing pin 38 to clear the ball 50 and permit thecompressed spring 47 to expand suddenly, causing the ring pin 38 tostrike the percussion cap 39 and initiate the firing thereof. The neckmember 54 is supported on a downwardly facing cup-shaped extensionmember 55 having ports 57 in the walls thereof. The cup-shaped member 55is loosely supported on the upper end of a tubular valve member S, thelower end of which is threadedly connected to the upper end of the tube30 as indicated at 59. The upper end of the tubular valve member 58 isprovided with a central opening 68 which receives a frangible blow-outplug 61 which normally seals the interior of the tube 30 against thepassage of fluid therethrough in either direction.

The slidable tube 30 is provided, intermediate its ends, with sealingmeans, such as the O ring 62, for sealing the space between the exteriorof the'tube 30 and the central bore 29 in the closure plug 19. The lowerend of the tube 30 has an enlarged head 63 which forms a female couplingwhich is internally threaded as indicated at 64. A tubular nozzle member65 is threadedly attached at its upper end to the coupling 63 at 64. Thenozzle member 65 is provided with central, axially disposed passageway66 which communicates at its upper end with a laterally extendingpassage 67, the outer end of which communicates with a chamber 68 formedwithin the shell 21 between the closure plug 19 and a bushing 69 whichlatter is threadedly secured to the lower end of the shell 21 asindicated at 70. The bushing 69 is provided with a central bore 71through which the nozzle 65 extends. The nozzle 65 is restraineddownward movement (from the position shown in Fig. 3) by means of a stopnut 72 which is threadedly secured to the nozzle 65 as indicated at 73.The lower end of the nut 72 normally rests upon the upper end of thebushing 69, as shown in Fig. 3.

'I'he central bore 66 of the nozzle 65 has an enlarged counterbore 74 inits lower portion. Within the counterbore 74 and spaced from thel wallsthereof is a tube 75 which is threadedly secured to the upper interiorportion of the nozzle 65 in alignment with the axial passageway 66, asindicated at 76. The lower portion of the tube 75 is preferably enlargedto form a somewhat pear-shaped head 77. The head 77 is of slightlysmaller diameter than the counterbore 74, the latter being flaredoutwardly and downwardly at its lower end, as indicated at 78. The lowerportion of the nozzle 65 is preferably enlarged to form a head 79 whichis provided with an upwardly facing shoulder 80. A helical, compressiblespring 81 surrounds the nozzle 65 and bears against the upwardly facingshoulder 80 and against the downwardly facing surface 82 of the bushing69, to normally maintain the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3. Thespace between the outside of the tube 75 and the interior wall of thecounterbore 74 forms an annular channel 83 which communicates at itslower end with a restricted passage 84 formed between the head 77 andthe counterbore 74. The upper end of channel 83 communicates with thelower end of a vertical passage 85 in the upper portion of the nozzle65. The upper end of passage 85 communicates with the lower end of thepassage 86 through the tube 30.

Seated upon the top of cover member 40 is a propellant charge 87 (Fig.2) within the housing 27 which is closed at its upper end by anysuitable means, such as the partition 88. The propellant charge 87 isshown as a solid propellant, of cylindrical shape and having a recess 89in its lower end to receive the percussion cartridge 39. The type ofpropellant and its configuration is not an essential part of the presentinvention.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 is as follows:with the parts in the positions shown in Figs. l and 2 the bailer 5 isattached to the hoisting line 6 and is lowered into the well until thenozzle (9 in Fig. 1 and 65, 77 and '79 in Fig. 3) contacts the top ofthe bridge formed by the debris 3. The weight of the bailer parts 7 and8 (Fig. l) causes these parts to slide downwardly on the nozzle 9-65compressing the spring 81. The relative upward movement of the nozzlemember 65, thus effected, pushes up the associated parts, 30, 58, 55, 54and 53 until the plunger 53 is above the ball detent 49. The ball 49then moves inwardly against the neck 54, freeing the firing pin 38 whichis snapped upwardly by the spring 47. The top of the firing pin 38strikes the percussion cap in the cartridge 39, causing it to ignite,and, in turn, ignites the propellant S7. High pressure gas generated bythe burning propellant (which contains sufficient oxygen for combustion)passes downwardly through the passage 34, the ports 35, the ports 43 and45, and 57 into the interior of the cup-shaped member 55 (Fig. 3). Whenthe gas pressure has built up sufiiciently to overcome the frangibleblow-out plug 61, the passage 60 is opened, permitting the gas to passdownwardly through the tubular valve member 58, the tube 30, thepassages 85, 83, 84 and downwardly against the debris 3, dislodging aportion of the debris and causing it to move upwardly in the well bore.There is usually iiuid in the well to a point above the top of thebailer. In this event, the suction created in the lower end of the tube75 by the high velocity gas passing out of the restricted orifice 84tends to pull well liquid downwardly from above and to commingle theliquid with the high velocity gas jet, thus greatly increasing thespecific gravity of the combined liquid and gas jet over the gas jetalone. Liquid entering the tube 75 is supplied through the drain holes17 (Fig. 2) in the tube 14 within the buckets 7. Liquid from theinterior of the tube 14 flows downwardly through ports 67, into the topof the passage 66 and thence into the top of the tube 75, issuing fromthe lower end of tube 75 and commingling with the jet of gas issuingfrom the nozzle 78-79.

By the time the propellant 87 has been expended, a suliicient volume ofdebris 3 will have been raised to a point above one or more of thebuckets 7 to lill the buckets. Filling is accomplished by raising thebailer 5 upwardly through the dislodged debris. The upwardly facingbuckets 7 tend to become filled with both debris and well liquids. Sinceit is not the intention to use bailers of Vthe jet type for the removalof liquids, it is desrablethat as much of the liquid as possible `besepa-iI rated from the debris leaving only debris in the buckets 7.'IAhis is accomplishedby providing drain holes for liquid in the buckets7. 'I'he drain holes may be in the'walls of the tube 14, as shown inFig. 2, or they may be in the Walls or floor of the buckets, not shown.The well liquid which drains through the ports 17 into the tube 14 owsdownwardly and into the nozzle 9, as described above. Fig. 4 illustratesanother embodiment of the invention wherein the well lluid which isentrained in the gas jet issuing from the nozzle 91 is sucked into thenozzle through inlets or ducts 92 formed in the nozzle around the mainjet of gas issuing from the central passage 93. The construction of thebailer shown in Fig. 4 is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and3 with the omission of the inner housing 27 of Fig. v3 which serves tovform the liquid passage 31 which is unnecessary with the constructionshown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 'parts which are similar to those of Fig. 3are given the same numbers with an a added., No further description ofthe construction and operation of the device shown in Fig.. 4 is deemednecessary. u

' Fig. `5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein thejet issuing from the nozzle 95 is composed entirely of liquid. Theliquid is forced through the iet nozzle by means of high pressure gasgenerated by the burning of a propellant 8717. Parts having functionssimilar to the corresponding parts ofV Figs. 3 and 4 are given similarnumbers with a b added. The liquid which is to be. ejected through thenozzle 95 is contained in a reservoir 96 within a tubular chamberportion of the bailer body 97, to the lower end of which is attached thenozzle 95. The nozzle 95 has a small, downwardly directed orifice 98which is normally sealed by a frangible plug 99. The upper end of thereservoir chamber 97 is threadedly attached to the lower end of atubular member 65b as indicated at 100. Member 65h is provided at itsupper end with an enlarged head 101 having a downwardly facing shoulder102 which rests upon the upper end of a threaded bushing 69b which isattached to the lower end of a tubular shell 2lb as indicated at 70b.The tubular shell 2lb is threadedly attached at its upper end to atubular housing 18b as indicated at103. VSuitable sealing means, such asthe O ring 104, is provided in member 2lb to seal the space betweenmembers 2lb and 18b. The upper end of the tubular shell 2lb is closed bya transverse wall-105 having a central bore 106 through which the tube30b extends slidably. Sealing means such as the O ring 62b seals thespace between the tube andthe wall 105. A helical compressible spring81b is interposed between the top ofv member 2lb and the underside ofthe transverse wall 105 to maintain the members 65b- `and 2lb normallyin the extended position shown in'Fig. 5. Spacer washers 108 may beplaced under one end of the spring 81b, if desired, to adjust thecompression of the spring. Relief ports 109 are provided in the wall ofthe shell 2lb communicating with the chamber which encloses the spring81b.

A tubular housing 28b is threadedly secured to wall 105 at 110. Theupper end of housing 28b terminates in a plate 111 which supports acharge of propellant 87b. Plate 111 is perforated as indicated at 112 topermit the passage of gas therethrough. Mounted within the housing 28bis a tubular support member 44b on which a cup-shaped firing pin 38b isslidably mounted and supported on a helical compressed spring 47b. Aball detent 4911 latches the firing pin releasably inthe position shownin Fig. 5. A plunger 53b is mounted on the upper side of a downwardlyfacing cup-shaped member 55b which is loosely supported on a tubularmember 58b on the upper end of the tube 30b. The lower end of thepassageway 113 through the tubular member 65b is threaded as indicatedat 114 to receive a threaded orifice bushing 115 which constricts theoutlet from passageway 113 in orderto maintain a back-pressure on thepropellant 87h while the propellant is burning.

Operation of the bailer shown in Fig. 5 is as follows: 'Ihe bailerv islowered` into the well with parts in the position shown in Fig. S. Whenthe nozzle strikes the top of the debris in the well its downward motionis arrested but the tubular members 18b and 2lb continue to movedownwardly, compressing 'the spring 81b, releasing the ball detent 49b,permitting the tiring pin 38b to snap upwardly to re the percussioncartridge 39b. The cartridge 39h ignites the propellant charge 87b.fHigh pressure gas generated by the burning of the prop ellant 87b movesdownwardly through ports 112, 116,

, 35h, 57b, through the tube 30h, the passageway 113, and

through the orifice bushing into the reservoir 96 which is lled withliquid such as oil or water. When the pressure within reservoir 96 hasrisen sutliciently to cause shearing of the frangible plug 99 the jetorifice 98 is opened, permitting the liquid within the reservoir to beforced out through the orifice 98 in the form of a high velocity jethaving a large kinetic energy. The dislodging of the debris by the jetand its removal by the bailer proceeds in the manner described inconnection .with the bailers shown in Figs. l through 4.

Fig. 6 illustrates still another form of the invention wherein thegaseous jet is directed upwardly instead of downwardly and wherein thedebris is sucked into the lower end of the bailer body instead of beingjetted up-k wardly to be picked up by buckets on the upper portion ofthe bailer. Although the suction effect on the debris in the well isless than the jetting force developed by the bailers of Figs. 1-5, thedevice of Fig. 6 has the advantage of placing the entrance to the bailerbody close to the debris to be removed so that it is not necessary toraise the debris to a point above the top of the bailer body.A

In Fig. 6 the well casing is indicated at 117 with a body of debris 118therein. Well liquid 119 fills the casing 117 to some point above thebailer 120. The bailer 120 is supported by a hoisting line 121. Aninsulated electric conductor line 122 extends downwardly from the top ofthe well to an igniter in the bailer 120. The bailer is attached to thelower end of the hoisting line 121 by any suitable means such as thebail 123.

The bailer comprises a main body member 124, a nozzle member 125, apropellant combustion chamber 126. and an inlet port 127 having adownwardly closing check valve 128. The nozzle member is attached to thelifting bail 123 by any suitable means and is threadedly attached to theupper end of the tubular body member 124 as indicated at 129. The lowerend of the tubular body member 124 is threaded internally as indicatedat to receive a threaded ring 131 which provides an annular seat 132 fora apper valve 128 which is hingedly mounted on the ring 131 as indicatedat 133. The propellant combustion chamber 126 is preferably in the formof a tubular housing which is threadedly supported at its lower end, asindicated at 134, on a spider member 135 which serves as a closure forthe lower end of the combustion 126. The spider member 135 is secured tothe bailer body 124 by any suitable means such as welding as indicatedat 136. Fluid passages 137 extend through the spider 135. The upper endof the tubular combustion chamber 126 is threaded internally, asindicated at 138, to receive a tubular nozzle 139. The upper end ofnozzle 139 extends upwardly within the opening in nozzle 125 and is oflesser diameter than the opening so as to provide an annular passageway140 between the two nozzles. The upper end of nozzle 139 is normallysealed against the entrance of well fluid 119 by any suitable means suchas the cap 141. A body of propellant 142 is shown within the combustionchamber 126. The propellant is provided with an igniter 143 to which areattached the electric lead wires 144. The leads 144 extend throughthecap 141 and are connected to the conductor line 122. Thevoperation ofthe bailer shown in Fig. 6 is as follows: The bailer is lowered into thewell until it rests upon the debris 11S, approximate position shown inFig. 6, and the electric circuit 122-144 is energized, thus igniting theigniter 143 and the propellant 142. As gas pressure develops within thecombustion chamber 126 the seal cap 141 is blown off of the nozzle 139and a high pressure, high velocity, gas jet issues from the nozzle 139.This gas jet passing through the opening in nozzle 1.25 creates asuction which pulls well liquid upwardly through the annular passageway140 between the nozzles 125 and 139. This suction also pulls well liquidupwardly through the bailer bodyv 124 and through the inlet port 127.The well liquid tends to pickup debris from the bridge 118 and pull itinto the bailer body where it is trapped above the flapper valve 128when the bailer is pulled upwardly by the hoisting line 121.

The several embodiments of the invention described above arerepresentative only and the invention is not to be limited thereto butis of the scope deinedby the appended claims. Y

We claim: Y

l. A jet bailer comprising: a bailer body having a fluid inletin thebottom thereof; a downwardly closing check valve in a debris-receivingchamber above said fluid inlet;

a combustion chamber within said bailer body; a uid passage from saiddebris-receiving chamber past said combustion chamber; a gas-receivingnozzle on the upper end of said combustion chamber and directedupwardly,4 and exteriorly ofsaid bailer body; a liquid-receiving nozzleon the upper end of said bailer body communicatf ing with said Huidpassage and surrounding said gas. receiving nozzle; and means forgenerating gas pressure in said combustion chamber.

2. A. jet bailer which comprises a bailer body having an open bucket atits upper end, a rst chamber'within said body, gas generating materialswithin said first chamber, a second chamber in said body to containliquid, a rst nozzle for exhausting gases from said rst chamber intosaid second chamber, a second downwardlydirected nozzleV at the bottomof said bailer body communicating with said second-chamber forexhausting said liquid, and ignitionmeans for igniting said gasgeneratingl material.

3. In a bailer having open buckets mounted thereon,

the combination comprising: A bailer body; a combustion` chamberarranged within said body; a gas discharge nozzle forming a part of saidbody, said nozzle being directed downwardly and exteriorly of said body;means providing communication between said combustion chamber and saidgas discharge nozzle; a liquid discharge nozzle positioned within thegas discharge nozzle, whereby It is then raisedslightly, to theliquidexiting from the liquidy discharge nozzle will be entrained in the gasstream exiting from the gas discharge.

nozzle; and inletmeans providing communication between said liquidVdischarge nozzleV and, the exterior of saidl Y bailer/body.

4..A jetj type bailer comprising: A bailer body;` an.

axialz drainage tube extending through said body; upwardly` facing openbuckets mounted on and around said drainage tube, said buckets havingdrainage ports,

extending throughlthe walls of said drainage, tube within said buckets;a combustion chamber arranged, within saidv body; a gas dischargenozzle, forming a part of said body, said nozzle being directeddownwardly and exteriorly of said bailer body; means providingcommunication between said combustion chamber and said gas dischargenozzle; a means providing a liquid.ilow

path from the interior of saiddrainage tubes to said gas nozzle,wherebyliquid exiting from the passageway Will be entrainedl in the gas streamexiting from the gas discharge nozzle.

6.V In a bailer, the combination comprising: A bailer.

body having aninlet; an open bucket mountedon said body; a combustionchamber arranged within said body; a, reservoir for liquid arrangedwithin said body; means providing communication between said reservoir.and said combustion chamber; a discharge nozzle forming a part of saidbody, said nozzle being arranged to com,- municate with the lower end ofsaid reservoir and said nozzle being directed downwardly and exteriorlyof said body and. said reservoir; and frangible means normally closingsaid nozzle, but adapted to be `dislodged to permit.

ahigh velocity jet ofrliquid to discharge from the nozzle when sufcientpressure is exerted thereon.

References Cited in the 'rile of this .patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS901,287 Flanegin Oct. 13, 1908 2,136,881 Johnston Nov. 15; 19382,740,478 Greene Apr. 3, 1956 2,776,715 Furson et al. Jan. 8, 1957-2,804,150 Furson Aug, 27 1957

